Women's Basketball Tripped up by Tritons

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In a game where momentum swung back and forth, Barry University women’s basketball finally succumbed to host Eckerd College Saturday.

Barry nearly overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, but couldn’t get over the hump in the closing minutes, falling 72-68 at McArthur Center.

The loss dropped the Buccaneers to 9-5 overall, 1-4 in the Sunshine State Conference. Eckerd improved to 7-6, 4-2 in the SSC.

Barry trailed 59-45 after Eckerd’s Rana Thomas knocked down a jumper at the 11:15 mark. But the Bucs responded with a 6-0 run to draw within eight after Amanda Frontino scored on a layup.

Frontino, who checked into the game midway through the second half, hit four straight field goals to pull the Buccaneers back in it. Frontino’s jumper with 8:02 left pulled Barry within five. The Buccaneers cut it to four when Kaley Howard knocked down a jumper with 3:58 remaining. But Eckerd widened its lead back to seven on Krystal Charles’ jumper.

Colette Eule scored on a layup with nine seconds remaining to pull Barry within 72-65. The Bucs pressure forced a turnover, giving Barry possession with eight seconds to go. But the Buccaneers couldn’t knock down a three or the follow-up.

Eule sank one of two free throws with three seconds on the clock, but Barry didn’t get another crack on the offensive end, and the Tritons held on.

Barry shot 22 of 54 from the field for 40.7 percent. Eckerd was 23 of 49 for 46.9. Barry outrebounded Eckerd, 35-30.

Barry opened the game with a sizzling shooting performance as the Buccaneers knocked down seven of their first eight field goals to take a 20-10 lead. The Buccaneers 88 percent shooting start was their best to open a game all season.

Tyler Hardy, who had 12 first-half points, sank a pair of free throws at the 13:38 mark to put the Bucs up 10. But Eckerd turned the tables after the Bucs shooting cooled off. The Tritons got hot and gained control, taking a 40-34 lead into halftime.

The Tritons hit eight of 14 triples in the first half for 57.1 percent.

Hardy finished with a game-high 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Krystal Charles had 16 points and 15 boards for Eckerd, who went 15 of 16 from the free throw line.

Eule had 13 points, and Dominique Dixon and Kaley Howard each had 10 for the Bucs, who turned the ball over just six times. Frontino finished with nine points. Eckerd’s Taylor Bestry had 19.

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